Apparatus for reeling rubber stock



June 19, 1934. E. w. STACEY 1,963,179

APPARATUS FOR REELING RUBBER STOCK Filed Jan. 2, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Fig.1.

June 19, 1934. E. w. STACEY APPARATUS FOR REELING RUBBER STOCK 2Sheets-Sheet 2 m w m k r m M M H ,7

Patented June 19, 1934 UNITED STATES APPARATUS FOR REELING RUBBER STOCKErnest W. Stacey, Beverly, Mass, assignor to United ShoeMachineryCorporation, Paterson, N. .I., a corporation of New JerseyApplication January 2, 1931, Serial No. 506,034

18 Claims.

The present invention relates to apparatus by which rubber stock isformed in coils for use in the manufacture of footwear and the like, itbeing especially concerned with the winding upon reels l of stripsdivided from a web of rubber. Thecoiling of strips of foxing-materialfurnishes an example of the work for which my improved apparatus is welladapted.

In producing the foxing employed in attaching 1 1 rubber soles to shoesof the sneaker type, the strip foxing-material is cut from a thinextended sheet or Web of rubber, the strips being coiled separately forconvenient use by the operator who applies the soles. An object of myinvention is to pro- 16 I vide for the formation of such strip-materialas foxing and its arrangement upon reels by an apparatus which will besimple, compact and convenient to operate. In attaining this object, Ihave, in a novel manner, combined with stock- 20" advancing means, as aconveyor-belt, stock-dividing means, which may consist of cutters, meansfor directing the divided stock rearwardly from the dividing mechanismto opposite sides of the advancing stock, and receiving reels for the'2! strips of divided stock situated at opposite sides of the stock asit advances, said reels being rotatable to wind the strips. Thereresults a compact structure, occupying relatively little floor-space,yet with the elements readily accessible. With each receiving reel Iprefer to associate a reel arranged to supply a separator to thestock-strips.

This bringing together of the source of separator with stock-advancing,dividing and receiving ele- I ments is believed to be patentable,whatever the if "direction in which the divided stock passes to thereceiving reels. By this organization, oppositely directing the dividedstrips, adhesion between their edges is prevented prior to reeling, andample space is given between the strips to admit such reel-elements assupporting cheeks or flanges. The interposed separator guards againstthe adhesion of the successive convolutions of stock, so the two stripswill be symmetrically positioned with respect to each other upon a reel.

A particular embodiment of this invention appears in the accompanyingdrawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my improved reeling 0Bapparatus;

Fig. 2, an enlarged broken detail in side elevation of a reel-mounting;

Fig. 3, a side elevation of the cutting meohanism, with the immediatelyassociated elements operating upon the stock, and their driving means;and

Fig. 4, an enlarged perspective view of said operating elements and thereels for the combined stockand separator-strips.

In a frame 10, above the base thereof, are journaled rolls 12, 12, overwhich operates a horizontal conveyor-belt 14. The belt is driven from amotor 16, supported near the bottom of the frame, through a chain ofelements which include a belt 18, reduction-gearing 20, sprocket-gearing22, a pinion 24, an idle pinion 26 and a gear 28 on the shaft of theforwardroil 12, so the upper run of the belt travels to the right, asthe apparatus i is viewed in Fig. 1 of the drawings. At the left, thebelt receives a web G of material, as gumrubber-stock forthe foxings ofshoes, which web may come directly from unillustrated calenderrolls. Todivide the web into a number of strips each of a width suitable forfoxing, it passes over a horizontal bedor abutment-roll '30 journaled inthe frame just in advance of and below the conveying surface of thebelt. This'roll 30 is ro tated in the direction of the arrow (Fig. 3) bya gear 32 meshing with the pinion 26. Journaled above the roll 30, inbearings adjustable by screws 34 with respect to the bed-roll, is acutter-roll 36. Spaced along the roll, at distances corresponding to thewidth of the foxing-strips to be produced, are circular knives 38operating in contact with .95' the periphery of the bed-roll. Thecutter-roll receives power from the gear 28 through an idler.

3'7, a pinion 39, having another'function to be later referred to, and agear 40.

From the rolls 30 and 36 emerge the divided foxing-strips j, passingalternately up and down to opposite sides of the path of the web ofstock, to be wound upon twoseries of reels R, R, together withintermediate separator-strips 5-, which prevent the adhesion of theconvolutionsof coils of foxing to one another. The separatorstrips aretaken from series of reels 1, 1'. Each reel of both the series R. and 1"consists of a core 44, in which is an axial opening of considerablediameter, and a flange or cheek 46, which supports or 10 positions theside of the reeled coil at one extremity of the core. The reels 1' aremounted side by side upon two spindles 48 projecting horizontally,respectively above and below the belt, from a divided standard 50 risingfrom the frame-base at the rear of the stock-cutting means. Except thatthe spindles of the rolls 1" are fixed and those of the rolls R rotated,their structure and mounting are the same and may be seen in Figs. 1 and2 of the drawings, the latter particularly illustrating the arrangementof one of the reels R. Each spindle 48 is enlarged in diameter, over theportion which is to receive the reels, by a sleeve 54 secured to it. Thesleeve so fits the reel-openings as to permit the rotation of the reels,resisted only by their frictional engagement. Each series of reels isnormally retained on its spindle-enlargement, against a flange 53thereon, by a plate 55, which may be circular in form, of a diametergreater than that of the reel-openings and slotted radially at 56 toreceive a screw 58 threaded into the outer end of the spindle. When thescrewhead is forced against the plate, this is clamped in place, and theentire series of reels upon the spindle is held against displacement butfree to rotate. When it is desired to remove empty reels and supplythose having the separator wound upon them, a mere loosening of thescrew enables the operator to slip olf the retaining plate. Then, sincethe screw-head is of less diameter than the reel-openings, the way isclear for the change.

. As previously stated, alternate foxing-strips leave the rolls and 36of the cutting mechanism in opposite directions and are wound uponseparate series B, R of receiving reels. These 1', except, in thepresent instance, the spindles mechanism M, said spindle being fixedhorizonreels R, are carried by their spindles 48 upon a second framestandard 62, and, as previously pointed out, these spindles and theroll-retaining means may be identical with those of the reels for thereels R are rotated, the lower by sprocketgearing 64 from the forwardconveyor-roll 12, and the upper from its companion by sprocket-gearing66. Separation of the adjacent strips by opposite delivery to upper andlower rolls gives space to receive the reel-flanges 46, so the edges ofthe soft gum will not be mutilated by contact with them, and avoids theadhesion of said edges to one another. Between the cutting mechanism andeachof the reels R is a feeding mechanism M for the strips of separator.These mechanisms, except for their location, may be in every essentialparticular the same, and a description of one will serve for both. Abouta spindle 68 of each tally in the frame, turns a sleeve 70, from theopposite extremities of which project parallel arms 72, 72. Journaled inthe arms, at the ends opposite the sleeve, is a pressure-roll '74, whichpreferably has a yieldable surface, as of rubber. Rotatable upon thearms between the pressureroll and the pivotal axis is a roll 76, inwhich is a uniformly spaced series of grooves 78, of such Widthand depthas to receive and guide the separator-strip s.

The edges of the grooves are so alined with. the knives 38 that theseparator-strips may be delivered in registration with the cutfoxing-strips, theedges of the latter not project- Springs 80,connecting '74 into cooperation with a feed-roll 82 journaled in fixedbearings in the frame. The roll 82 of the lower mechanism M has fastwith it a pinion 84 meshing with driven pinion 24, so it is, in turn,

driven, The roll 82 of the upper mechanism M carries upon its shaft thepinion 39, so it is also rotated, the peripheral speed of the feed-rollsbeing, in each instance, equal to the rate of advance of the belt 14 andto the peripheral speed of the rolls of the cutting mechanism, so theout stock and separator, when brought together, may move in synchronism.

In putting the apparatus of this invention into use, the arms 72 areswung temporarily outward to separate the pressure-rolls from thefeed-rolls, this rendering it easy to introduce the separatorstrips sbetween them, by cams 86 projecting from horizontal spindles 88 andturned by handlevers 90. 'The strips s are drawn from their reels rbeneath guide rods 92 projecting from the standard 50 and past thesleeves 70, which may also serve as guides in addition to supporting thearms '72. Then the strips proceed over the guide-rolls 76 at one sideand the pressure-rolls '74 at the other. They thus pass through the biteof the pressureand feed-rolls. The rubber stock G is conveyed from thecalender-rolls by the belt 14 and carried between the bed-roll 30 andthe knife-roll 36 of the cutting mechanism, being there divided into thefoxing-strips f. Sets of alternate strips are associated withcorresponding separator-strips and connected, respectively, to flattenedportions 94 of the upper and lower series of receiving reels R, R. Then,upon starting the apparatus in operation, the feeding mechanisms M drawoff the sets of separator-strips from the respective series of reels 1",1', and these, with the registering foxing-strips f, are gradually woundabout the reels R, R until these have been filled. In this operation,the reels 1' are rotated by the pull of the separator-strips againsttheir frictional resistance upon the spindles, while the receiving reelsR. are rotated by their gearing initially at the speed necessary to coilthe combined strips as they are received, without leaving slack betweensaid reels and the feeding mechanism; and thereafter, as the coilsaccumulate, the reels R slip on their spindles to compensate for theincreasing diameter cf the coils. Since all the reels are rotatable upontheir spindles independently of the associated reels, differences intension of the strips produce no evil effect. The loosening of thescrews 58 and the slipping aside of the retaining plates allow all thefilled reels R to be withdrawn from their spindles 48 for separatedistribution.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In an apparatus for reeling rubber stock, stock-advancing means,dividing mechanism to which the stock is delivered, receiving reels forthe divided stock, means for rotating the reels to wind the dividedstock, a separator-supplying reel associated with each receiving reel,and means acting upon the separator from each supply-reel to draw itfrom said supply-reel and deliver it to the divided stock between thedividing mechanism and the corresponding receiving reel.

, 2. In an apparatus for reeling rubber stock,

stock-advancing means, dividing mechanism to which the stock isdelivered, series of receiving reels for the divided stock, means forrotating the reels to wind the divided stock, a series of reels forseparator-strips, there being one separator-reel for each receivingreel, associated with upon the strip'of separator from each supplyingreel to draw itfromsaid reel and deliver it to the divided stock. 1

3. In an apparatus for reeling rubber stock, stock-advancing means,dividing mechanism to which the stock is delivered, a series ofreceiving reels for the divided stock, means for rotating the reels towind the divided stock, a series of reels for separator-strips to supplythe separator-strips to the stock, and means arranged for separateengagement with the opposite edges of each sep-' arator-strip forguiding said separator-strips laterally into registration with thedivided stock with which they are to be wound upon the receiving reels.

4. In an apparatus for reeling rubber stock, stock-advancing means,dividing mechanism to which the stock is delivered, series of receivingreels for the divided stock situated at opposite sides of the stock asit advances to the dividing mechanism, means for rotating the reels towind the divided stock, a series of reels for separatorsfrips, therebeing one separator-reel for each receiving reel, associated with eachseries of said receiving reels to supply the separator-strips to thestock, means acting upon the strip of separator from each supplying reelto draw it from said reel and deliver it to the divided stock betweenthe dividing mechanism and the corresponding receiving reel, and guidingmeans for the separator-strips associated with each separator-drawingmeans.

5. In an apparatus for reeling rubber stock, a conveyor-belt arranged toadvance a web of rubber stock, a roll carrying a plurality of cuttersand an abutment-roll co-operating with the cutter-roll, between whichrolls the conveyor delivers the web, receiving reels for the cut websituated in series respectively above and below the conveyor, and meansfor rotating the receiving reels.

6. In an apparatus for reeling rubber stock, a conveyor-belt arranged toadvance a web of rubn ber stock, a roll carrying a plurality of cuttersand an abutment-roll co-operating with the cutter-roll, between whichrolls the conveyor delivers the web, a rotatable spindle mounted uponopposite sides of the conveyor, means for rotating the spindle, seriesof reels carried upon 'each spindle to separately receive strips of cutweb, a fixed spindle associated with each rotatable spindle, a series ofreels for separator-strips carried by each fixed spindle andcorresponding to the receiving reels, and means for guiding theseparator-strips into contact with the web-strips.

8. In an apparatus for reeling rubber stock, stock-advancing means,dividing mechanism to which the stock is delivered, receiving reels forthe divided stock, means for rotating the reels to wind the dividedstock, a reel associated with each receiving reel and arranged to supplya separator-strip to divided stock, a feed-roll contacting with theseparator, and a pressure-roll arranged to force the separator againstthe feedroll.

'9. man apparatus for reeling rubber stock, stock-advancing means,dividing mechanism to which the stock is delivered, receiving reels forthe divided stock, means for rotating the reels to wind the dividedstock, a reel associated with each receiving reel and arranged to supplya sep arator-strip to divided stock, a feed-roll contacting with theseparator, a pressure-roll arranged to force the separator against thefeed-roll, and means arranged to separate the pressureand feed-rolls.

10. In an apparatus for reeling rubber stock, stock-advancing means,dividing mechanism to which the stock is delivered, receiving reels forthe divided stock, means for rotating the reels to wind the dividedstock, a reel associated with each receiving reel and arranged to supplya sep arator-strip to divided stock, a feed-roll contacting with theseparator, arms pivoted adjacent to the feed-roll, a pressure-rollrotatable upon the arms and cooperating with the feed-roll, and meanscontacting with the arms for separating the rolls.

11. In an apparatus for reeling rubber stock, stock-advancing means,dividing mechanism to which the stock is delivered, a series ofreceiving reels for the divided stock, means for rotating the reels towind the divided stock, a series of reels arranged to supplyseparator-strips to the divided strips of stock, feed-rolls betweenwhich the separator-strips pass, and a guide member associated with thefeed-rolls and provided with grooves to receive the separator-strips.

12. In an apparatus for reeling rubber stock, stock-advancing means,dividing mechanism to which the stock is delivered, series of receivingreels for the divided stock, means for rotating the reels to wind thedivided stock, a series of reels for separator-strips, there being oneseparator-reel for each receiving reel, associated with each series ofsaid receiving reels to supply the separator-strips to the dividedstrips of stock, a feed-roll contacting with the separator-strips fromeach series of separator-reels, arms pivoted adjacent to each feed-roll,pressure-rolls rotatable upon the arms and co-operating with thefeed-rolls, and guide-rolls journaled in the arms and having grooves toreceive the separator-strips.

13. In an apparatus for reeling rubber stock, stock-advancing means,dividing mechanism to which the stock is delivered, series of receivingreels for the divided stock, means for rotating the reels to wind thedivided stock, a series of reels for separator-strips, there being oneseparator-reel for each receiving reel, associated with each series ofsaid receiving reels to supply the separator-strips to the dividedstrips of stock, a feed-roll contacting with the separator-strips fromeach series of separator-reels, arms pivoted adjacent to each feed-roll,pressure-rolls rotatable upon the arms and co-operating with thefeed-rolls, guide-rolls journaled in the arms and having grooves to,receive the separator-strips, and means for moving the arms to separatethe pressure-rolls from the feed-rolls.

14. In an apparatus for reeling rubber stock, means for advancing a webof rubber stock, spaced cutters arranged to divide the web into strips,a series of rotatable reels arranged to receive the strips, a series ofreels for separatorstrips, means for feeding the separator-strips intoco-operation with the web-strips, and a guideroll associated with thefeeding means and provided with grooves for the separator-strips, saidgrooves being alined with the cutters.

15. In an apparatus for reeling rubber stock, a frame, dividingmechanism carried near one extremity of the frame, means for advancingthe stock through the frame to the dividing mechanism, means fordirecting the divided stock rearwardly from the dividing mechanism toopposite sides of the advancing stock, receiving reels for the dividedstock supported at the rear of the dividing means and at opposite sidesof the advancing stock, and means for rotating the receiving reels towind the divided stock.

16. In an apparatus for reeling rubber stock, a frame, dividingmechanism carried near one extremity of the frame, means for advancingthe stock through the frame to the dividing mechanism, means fordirecting the divided stock rearwardly from the dividing mechanism toopposite sides of the advancing stock, receiving reels for the dividedstock supported at the rear of the dividing means and at opposite sidesof the advancing stock, means for rotating the receiving reels to windthe divided stock, and a series of reels for separator-strips situatedat the rear of each receiving reel at opposite sides of the advancingstock.

17. In an apparatus for reeling rubber stock, a. frame, dividingmechanism carried near one extremity of the frame, means for advancingthe stock through the frame to the dividing mechanism, means fordirecting the divided stock rearwardly from the dividing mechanism toopposite sides of the advancing stock, receiving reels for the dividedstock supported at the rear of the dividing means and at opposite sidesof the advancing stock, means for rotating the receiving reels to windthe divided stock, a series of reels for separator-strips situated atthe rear of each receiving reel at opposite sides of the advancingstock, and combined guiding and feeding mechanism through which eachseries of separatorstrips passes into engagement with the divided stock.

18. In an apparatus for reeling rubber stock, a frame having a base anda plurality of standards rising therefrom, dividing mechanism carried bythe frame near one extremity, receiving reels for the divided stockrotatable near the upper and lower portions of a standard adjacent tothe dividing mechanism, a series of reels for separator-strips rotatablenear the upper and lower portions of a standard at the rear of that uponwhich the receiving reels are mounted, guiding means for the stockextending between the upper and lower reels at the dividing mechanism,and means for rotating the receiving reels to wind the divided stock.

ERNEST W. STACEY.

